Sale 46 Lot 1215  

PAOLO MAGGINI-STYLE CREMONA VIOLIN ALSO KNOWN AS "THE WHITE HOUSE VIOLIN", Circa 1863. With interior label reading [sic] "The White House Violin 1916. This violin was at the White House at Washington from Abraham Lincoln to Woodrow Wilson. Col Crook supt. of the White House and Grounds was its' owner. It is said President Lincoln played on it as well as other Presidents." With accompanying documentation including notarized letters, restoration details and a photograph supporting the history and provenance. With blue velvet-lined case - 23 3/4 in. long.
Estimate $3,000-5,000

PROVENANCE: Colonel Crook was employed at the White House as an Attaché, and later Commissary, from the early 1860s until he died during the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. Colonel Crook owned this violin during his employment at the White House and played it regularly. It has been said that President Abraham Lincoln played it "in his old fashioned way." Documentation of 1926 confirms that President (Theodore) Roosevelt heard Col. Crook playing the violin and followed the music to Crook's room. At that point, Col. Crook stopped playing, which prompted the President to reply "keep right on Colonel I like to hear your playing."

Upon Colonel Crook's death the violin passed to his brother Dr. Harrison Crook, a Washington physician who treated President Garfield after he was fatally shot by Charles J. Guiteau. The violin passed to Dr. Crooks' son before it was later acquired by Mr. Matthew Ramage. As Mr. Ramage repaired violins for Dr. Crook and it is assumed that through this relationship he later acquired "The White House Violin." It was featured in a display prepared by Mr. Matthew Ramage at Lyon & Healy's Chicago headquarters in 1927.

Mr. Ramage had no heirs. Upon his death the violin was passed to a family friend, then by descent through that family to the current owner.



This violin is not currently in playable condition.

Unsold

© Sloans & Kenyon.  Images, descriptions and condition reports used on this site are original copyright material and are not to be reproduced without permission. For further information telephone Chevy Chase (301) 634-2330